Bayer has launched its global initiative, 'Bayer ForwardFarming', in India. This is the newest of 29 Forward Farms worldwide. Each Forward Farm serves as a beacon of sustainable agricultural practices, providing a platform for farmers, researchers, and stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge. The Bayer Forward Farm in India will demonstrate innovative farming techniques tailored to the needs of 150~ million smallholder farmers in the country, with a particular focus on sustainable rice cultivation, thus promoting the transition towards regenerative agriculture.
Natasha Santos, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Engagements at Bayer, stated, "Creating value for farmers is at the heart of what we do. We are excited to bring Bayer Forward Farming to India, a country that is pivotal to global food security. By supporting and empowering local farmers, we aim to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, increasing food security for all."
Direct Seeded Rice: A Comprehensive Approach to Regenerative Agriculture
For Bayer, regenerative agriculture is an outcome-based crop production model with improving soil health at its core. Strengthening resilience is a key objective, alongside mitigating climate change, maintaining or restoring biodiversity, conserving water, and increasing yields. Ultimately, the combination of regenerative practices aims to improve the economic and social well-being of farmers and their communities.
The potential of regenerative agriculture in India is particularly high in rice cultivation given its role as the world's second largest producer of rice. The need to shape an economically viable and sustainable rice cultivation system has never been more pressing. Rice production is not only impacted by climate change but also contributes to it. Bayer's Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) system is the most comprehensive and tangible example of regenerative agriculture in action. DSR touches on almost every outcome of regenerative agriculture that Bayer is focusing on, including improving soil health, reducing water usage, and enhancing resilience to climate change.
Moving from transplanted puddled rice cultivation to DSR can help farmers to reduce water use by up to 30-40 percent, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 45 percent and reduce farmers' dependence on scarce and costly manual labor by up to 40-50 percent. For India alone this could add up to a potential reduction of GHG emission by up to 82 million mt CO2 per year and water consumption by up to 167 billion m3 by 2040. The introduction of the DSR system is fully in line with Bayer's approach to regenerative agriculture which will enable farmers to produce more while restoring more.
Through Bayer's DirectAcres flagship project, Bayer is providing farmers with a tailored crop system that includes best-in-class seed, crop protection, digital tools, mechanization services, and agronomic solutions. These efforts are driven by public-private partnerships, ensuring that farmers can harvest a profitable rice crop with a regenerative focus.
Last year, 5,000 Indian farmers have successfully planted Direct Seeded Rice across 8,600 hectares through the DirectAcres program. Bayer would endeavor to support over 1 million smallholder farmers in India through its DirectAcres program by 2030. There are also plans to introduce DirectAcres in other rice growing countries in Asia, starting with the Philippines.
Tailored Solutions for Indian Agriculture
Ved Prakash Saini, the first Bayer Forward Farm partner in India, expressed his optimism about the partnership: "I am hopeful that the regenerative agricultural practices introduced through Bayer Forward Farming will lead to significant improvements in my yield and livelihood while making farming more sustainable. Techniques like Direct Seeded Rice and advanced technologies have the potential to enhance crop health, reduce water usage, and increase efficiency. I look forward to witnessing these benefits firsthand as we work together to build a resilient and prosperous future for farming."
Spread over 18 hectares, the Bayer Forward Farm in India is unique as it introduces a convergence of innovative technologies and sustainable interventions specifically designed for smallholder farmers. The farm integrates the following practices:
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Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Cropping System: A sustainable alternative to traditional rice cultivation that minimizes soil disturbance, reduces water consumption, and enhances soil health.
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Innovative Weed Management: Advanced weed control strategies that reduce reliance on chemical herbicides while maintaining crop health.
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Customized Agronomy Systems: Tailored solutions for diverse climatic conditions and soil types, enhancing crop yields and soil health.
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Carbon Farming: Practices aimed at capturing and storing carbon in the soil, contributing to climate change mitigation and soil fertility improvement.
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Nutrition and Water Management: Advanced techniques to optimize nutrient use and water efficiency, boosting farm productivity while reducing environmental impact.
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Vermicompost and loT: Use of vermicompost to enhance soil health, coupled with loT technologies for precise monitoring and management of agricultural processes.
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Irrigation and Drone Technology: Innovative irrigation techniques and drone technology for optimized water use and precise crop management.
Simon Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia mentioned, "At Bayer, we envision a regenerative farming future that restores and enhances the environment. The launch of Bayer Forward Farming in India is a part of it. By providing farmers with tailored solutions, modern tools and practices, proactive stewardship measures, and strategic partnerships, we aim to boost productivity, improve quality and yields, all while preserving the environment. We are dedicated to empowering farmers to adopt sustainable practices that build a resilient and thriving agricultural sector in India."
